816th Strategic Aerospace Division

History

The 816th Air Division was activated at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma in the summer of 1958 as an operational headquarters for dispersed Strategic Air Command (SAC) wings. The division initially commanded only the 11th Bombardment Wing, which had moved to Altus from Carswell Air Force Base, Texas six months earlier, and was beginning to re-equip with B-52s and Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers. Initially, the division and the wing shared the same commander. In September, the 4123d Air Base Group was organized at Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma and assigned to the division. This group's mission was to prepare the former Naval Air Station for the arrival of operational aircraft the following year.

In early 1959, the division assumed command of two strategic wings, the 4245th, which was assigned in January when it organized at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, and the 4123d, assigned in March, shortly after it moved from Carswell to Clinton-Sherman. The 4123d Air Base Group was assigned from the division to this wing on the same day the wing became part of the 816th. Each of the division's wings had one B-52 squadron and one KC-135 squadron assigned. The division conducted training in strategic air warfare on a global scale from 1958 to 1965. Starting in November 1961, the division's wings began flying Operation Chrome Dome airborne alert missions as well. The Chrome Dome concept had been tested by the division's 4123d Strategic Wing, augmented by crews from its 11th Bombardment Wing under the name Operation High Trip.

In June 1961, the 11th Wing was assigned a squadron equipped with the SM-65 Atlas missiles. In the spring of 1962, SAC units with responsibility for both bomber and missile forces were renamed to include the term aerospace in their designations. The 816th became the 816th Strategic Aerospace Division, while its 11th wWng became the 11th Strategic Aerospace Wing.

In February 1963, the 70th and 494th Bombardment Wings assumed the aircraft, personnel and equipment of the discontinued 4123d and 4245th Strategic Wings. The strategic wings were Major Command controlled (MAJCON) wings, which could not carry a permanent history or lineage, and SAC replaced them with a permanent units.

The division was inactivated in June 1965 and its component wings were assigned to other divisions.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 816th Air Division on 20 May 1958 : Activated on 1 July 1958 : Redesignated 816th Strategic Aerospace Division on 1 April 1962 : Discontinued and inactivated on 1 July 1965

Assignments

• Second Air Force, 1 July 1958 – 1 July 1965

Stations

• Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, 1 July 1958 – 1 July 1965

Components

Wings

• 11th Bombardment Wing (later 11th Strategic Aerospace wing): 1 July 1958 – 1 July 1965
• 70th Bombardment Wing: 1 February 1963 – 1 July 1965 :: Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma
• 494th Bombardment Wing: 1 February 1963 – 1 July 1963, 1 July 1964 – 1 July 1965 :: Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas
• 4123d Strategic Wing: 1 March 1959 – 1 February 1963 :: Clinton-Sherman Air Force Base, Oklahoma
• 4245 Strategic Wing: 5 January 1959 – 1 February 1963 :: Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas

Groups

• 4123d Air Base Group: 9 September 1958 – 1 March 1959

Other

• 4037th USAF Hospital: 1 July 1958 – 1 March 1959

Aircraft

• Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, 1958–1965
• Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter, 1958–1961
• Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, 1958–1965
• Boeing B-47 Stratojet, 1961–1962. : Boeing RB-47 Stratojet, 1958–1962
• SM-65 Atlas, 1961–1965

References

Notes

Footnotes

Bibliography

References

1. (11 October 2007). "Factsheet 816 Strategic Aerospace Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
2. "Abstract (Unclassified), Vol 1, History of Strategic Air Command, Jan–Jun 1957 (Secret)". Air Force History Index.
3. Ravenstein, ''Combat Wings'', pp. 26–27
4. The 11th had flown [[Convair B-36 Peacemaker]]s at Carswell
5. "Abstract, History 816 Air Division, July 1961". Air Force History Index.
6. (1 September 1958). "Abstract (Unclassified), History 816 Air Division (Secret)". Air Force History Index.
7. "Abstract, History 4123 Strategic Wing Apr 1958". Air Force History Index.
8. ''See'' Mueller, p. 543
9. (1 March 1959). "Abstract, History 816 Air Division". Air Force History Index.
10. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons''. p. 326
11. Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 716–717
12. (1 March 1959). "Abstract, History 816 Air Division". Air Force History Index.
13. (1 July 1960). "Abstract, History 816 Air Division". Air Force History Index.
14. Ravenstein, pp. 109–110
15. Ravenstein, p. 271
16. Ravenstein, ''Guide to AF Lineage'', p. 12